Supreme Court allows green crackers for two days
The Supreme Court has allowed certified green crackers in Delhi and nearby areas on November 7 and 8. It called bursting crackers a religious practice for Deepavali, but said unchecked use harms health and the environment. Read it to revise Articles 21 and 25, green crackers and air pollution.
- Dates
- 7 and 8 November
- Slots
- 6–7 a.m., 8–10 p.m.
- Area
- Delhi-NCR
- Banned
- Laris (series crackers)
The green cracker order: what happened?
Delhi’s air turns toxic every winter. The court tried to balance festival joy with the right to breathe.
- The Supreme Court allowed certified green crackers in Delhi-NCR on November 7 and 8.
- They can be burst only from 6 to 7 a.m. and from 8 to 10 p.m.
- No crackers within 300 metres of hospitals, old age homes, educational institutions and silence zones.
- Only certified makers can produce them from November 2 to 6; only crackers with QR codes can be sold.
What are green crackers?
Green crackers are made with less harmful chemicals and give out less smoke and fewer particles than normal crackers.
They were developed by CSIR’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) handles explosives safety.
Normal crackers release fine dust, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases can also cause acid rain.
How are green crackers different?
| Point | Normal crackers | Green crackers |
|---|---|---|
| Emissions | High | Lower |
| Certification | None needed earlier | NEERI and PESO |
| Sale | Open | Only with QR codes |
| Series crackers | Sold | Banned |
Which laws and Articles apply?
- Article 21: right to life includes a clean environment.
- Article 25: freedom of religion, subject to public order, morality and health.
- National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: green court for environment cases.
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Why does the green cracker order matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Rights balance | Article 25 vs Article 21. |
| Public health | Smog harms children and the old. |
| Science | Green crackers cut, not end, pollution. |
| Enforcement | QR codes help check fakes. |
What are the problems with the green cracker order?
- Fake green crackers are hard to spot.
- Time slots are hard to police.
- Crackers are only one cause; stubble and vehicles matter more.
- Poor enforcement in nearby States.
What should be done next on the green cracker order?
- Check QR codes at every shop.
- Push community fireworks shows.
- Tackle stubble burning and vehicle smoke.
- Run awareness drives in schools.
What can Prelims ask on the green cracker order?
Prelims probability: Expect a question on Article 21 and the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, or on the gases that cause acid rain.
- Green crackers developed by CSIR-NEERI.
- Article 21 includes a right to a clean environment.
- Article 25 is subject to public health.
- National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
- Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides cause acid rain.
How to write about the green cracker order in Mains
Practice question (15 marks, 250 words): Balancing religious practice and the right to a clean environment is a challenge for courts. Discuss with reference to the green cracker order.
- Intro: the order.
- Article 25 vs Article 21.
- Green crackers: gains and limits.
- Enforcement issues.
- Conclusion: shared responsibility.
Ready lines for your answer
- Faith and fresh air can live together.
- A festival of light should not become a season of smog.
Quotable data pointTwo days, two time slots, 300-metre no-cracker zones.
Photo: Ministry of Culture, GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons
Exam angle
Prelims: green crackers, NGT Act, acid rain. · Mains GS-III: air pollution.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
While allowing green crackers, the Supreme Court noted that the freedom of religion under Article 25(1) is subject to:
Answer (a) & explanation
Article 25(1) guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality and health and to the other Fundamental Rights.
Green crackers sold in India must be certified as meeting emission norms by which of the following institutions?
Answer (d) & explanation
Green crackers are developed and certified by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research lab); the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation licenses makers.
Questions students ask about this
When are green crackers allowed in Delhi-NCR?
On November 7 and 8, from 6 to 7 a.m. and 8 to 10 p.m.
Who developed green crackers?
CSIR's National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
Which crackers are banned?
Crackers joined in a series (laris), and any without QR codes.
Which gases cause acid rain?
Mainly sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.